Clutch plate



Patenteafsep't. 7,1926. l

UNITED- sTATEs-PATENT OFFICE MARTIN WILLENE, OFAROCKIORn'ILLINOIs,

A ssIcNon To ROOKFORD :DRILLING MA- C CHINE contr-ANY,v OF RoCKFoRD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH PLATE.

, 'Application filed March 12, 1926. Serial No. 94,183.

This invention relates to lclutches and more particularly friction disk clutches suited especially to thevrequirements of motor vehicles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a more quietly 'operating transmission by providing a clutch plate the drive colla-r of which 4hasa resilient driving connection therewith to `eliminate'vibration and the consequent noise and eventual wear and tear inthe operation thereof and thereby afo'rdja smoother andmore quietly AOperating clutch and motor.

More specifically stated, myinvention prof vides a clutch plate the central splined collar of which is provided with radiating teeth or spursoperatin insidea hollow hub on the clutch plate etween spacedfblocks or f cogs within the hub between whichand the teeth ofthe vcollar resilient cushioning elements are disposedto vafford the desired elasticity in the clutchplate andvovercomevibration in the motor which otherwise develops. A special feature of the present invention consistsp'in the provision of leaf springs. or, more particularly, laminated leaf springs as the resilient cushioning elements which have been found to give ideal perfor1nance,-are practically unbreakable and very durable,

andgperinit of a very compact and `sim`ple construction as well as being economical to use.l Still another feature consists in the provision of a sheetmeta-l annularl shell riveted ,with the aforesaid blocks tol the plate to form a rigid, and compact-hub Structure wherein the leaf springs are securely rei tained in position and whereby the'collar and the plate are held in' assembled relation. The invention is more fully described in the course of the .following specicationhaving reference to the accompanying. drawings,

wherein? e Y Figure 1 is a face view of a friction clutch diskembodying the presentnovel hub construction a portion of which is broken away ,more clearly to illustrate the internal structure thereof; A, f

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line the arrows; y

Y Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail partly 1n sec- 'tion' and partly in elevation of a' portion of `the hub structure appearing in'Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a modified 2-2 of Fig.,1, looking in the direction of form of hub structure operating on a similar principle to that shown In Figs. l to 3.

Tiroughout the views the same or similar reference numeralsl are applied to corresponding. parts.

In friction clutches of the present type, motion 1s transmitted from a driving shaft orinotor to the driven clutch disk or plate` `5 usually fby two Oppositely disposed presyincorporated aresilient driving connection between the plate Q and the collar 8 -by a certain novel-'hub construction indicated generally by the reference numeral 9 whereby to 'overcome'the vibration which was-Otherwise incident to the Operation of 'clutches of this generaltype which, as 'stated before, gave rise to noisy Operation 'and eventual wear and tear in the motor. In the case of smallermotors particularly, this vibration was quite noticeable -within the Ordinary range of driving speeds.

The elasticity in- `troduced by the vpresent invention has been foundf to eliminate these difficulties and the present ,constructionhas been found particularly advantageous by reasonl of the com pactness,ilight weigh-t, eXtreme durability, and comparative economy in production.

The hub structure 9 comprises an annular light sheet metal shell 1 0 riveted, as indicated at 11, with arcuate plates or blocks 12 to the plate 5 about a Central Opening 13 through which the collar 8 extends. The Collar 8 is held in permanently assembled relation with the plate 5 by virtue of the inter-engagement of a plurality of teeth or spurs 14 radiating therefrom within the hub structure 9. These teeth, as shown in Fg.1,engage between the blocks l2 leaving spaces between the same and the blocks, shown at 1 5, for the reception of fiat leaf lsprings 16. The latter, it will be noted, are

" sides'of the teeth 12 are under compression. A course, be detrimental to the noiseless operbe app arent slightly deflected or still leaving a slight springs 16 is composed of four laminae iiistead of one heavy spring.- It has been found that where one heavy spring will eventually break down under the severe hammering and sudden shocks of heavy driving, the laminated springs are practically indestructible for the present urpose. The springs are retained in position etween the blocks 12 and theteeth 14 by a rim or flange 17 provided on the shell 10. It will be noted that the ends -of the blocks 12 are formed convex, as shown at 18, and that the 14 are formed concave and substantially complementary with the ends of the blocks 12, as shown at 19. The springs 16 span the concavity 19 and rest in engagement` at their mid portions on the convex surfaces. 18 practically without freedom of movement endwise or laterally within the .spaces 15. When the springs 16 are inserted in the spaces 15, they are( normally bowed, clearance, as indicated at 20, to accommodate relative movement between the yteeth 14 and the blocks 12 in operation, which is accompaniedv by a con traction or expansion of the springs 16 in an obvious manner. tion of the springs avoids any possibility of their restingvloosely the springs at the other ends ofthe blocks This would, of

ation of the clutch. -y

The operation of the clutch will, no doubt, from the foregoing description. Sudden accelerat-ions and decelerati-ons of the motor are accompanied ,with expansion and .contraction ofthe springs, 16 and smooth and noiselessoperation is secured'. thereby.

These springs come into play both when the drive is from the motor to the rear axle and vice versa and make the oper; ation of themotor smootherand more quiet. In certain installations, tl'ie vibration period high speeds and dinary driving conditions which, ofcourse,

is the desideratum. The -present construe'- tion, it willbe appreciated, is highlyadvantageous from the standpoints of its simplicity, durability, ease of assembling, and economy of production while affordingpthel required lightness, ing kept as nearly as-possible close to the axisof rotation to diminish inertia factors.

In theu modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4the collar 8'is provided with va plurality of plain rectangular vlugs or teeth 14 engaging between the blocks .12 ,inside the annular shell 1() leaving spaces 15 therebetween lin which relatively hard -rubber pads or blocks 16 are as indicated,

The slight normal deflec` in the spacesA 15 when that no noise is y what weight, there is beheld to afford a resilient drivingconnection between the collar 8 and the plate 5 in a manner similar to that afforded by the springs 16 between the blocks 12 and teeth 14 of the other construction.

certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it should' be understood that some changes might be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without sacrificing certainlof the advantages obtained by the present construction and without departing from the 'spirit and scope of the invention as explained 'in the appended claims, therefore :4-

1. In a clutch plate, the combination of a central drive collar having al pluralityof teeth radiating therefrom in equally circumferentially spaced relation, a plurality of` blocks arranged to be fixed with said plate between the teeth vof said collar, and lsaid teeth and blocks providing complementary projections and recesses in spaced relation, a plurality of leaf springs fitting closely within the aforesaid spaces between said teeth and said blocks spanning said. recesses and resting in engagement with said projections leaving a slight clearance at the aforesaid recesses for a relative movement of said teeth and blocks accompanied with a contraction and expansion of-said springs,-

andja ring coaxial withsaid plate and riveted with said blocks to said plate, said ring having a peripheral circumferential flange. extendingtoward said plate to enclose said blocks and the teeth of said collar with said leafsprings disposed therebetween, whereby i to retain said collar in operative relation to ings said plate andto retain said leafsp and in operative relation between said teet said blocks.

2. In a 'clutch plate, central drive collar' teeth radiating therefrom in equally cireuinferentially spaced relation, a plurality of blocks arranged to be fixed with said plate between the teeth of teeth and blocks providing complementary projections andrecesses in spaced relation, a plurality of laminated leaf springs fitting closely within the aforesaid. spaces between the combination of a having a plurality of leo said collar, and said said teeth and said blocks spanning said recesses and `resting in engagement with said .projections leavinga slight clearance at the aforesaid recesses for a relative movement of said teeth .and blocks accompanied with a contraction and expansion of said springs,

said springs being slightlyV deflected norinally for the purpose herein specified, and i aring coaxial with saidplate and riveted with said blocks to said plate, said ring having aperipheral circumferential flange eX- tending toward said plate` to enclose said blocks and the teeth of said collar with said springs' disposed therebetween, whereby to .ferentially spaced drive teeth, a plurality of plates arcuate in form and of approximately the same thickness as said teetliand disposed within' the notches between said fteeth, there being spaces left between the ends of said plates andthe sides of said teeth,

the ends of said plates and` the-sides of said teeth being formed'conveX and concavev in substantially complementary form, narrow leafl springs fitting in the spaces between the ends of said plates and the sides of said teeth arranged to be bowed upon relative movement between said-teeth and said plates in operation, and an annular ysheet metal shell riveted with said plates to said clutch plate having an annular inturned flange enclosing the peripherie's`- of` said plates and teeth and serving to retain said le-af springs in the spaces between said plates andy teeth.'

4. In a clutch plate, the 'combination of a clutch collar centrally arrangedwith respect i to said platein a central openingprovided therein, said collar having a narrow circumferential flange disposed alongside said platev on the one side thereof, said flange being notched to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive teeth', 'a plurality of plates arcuate iii form and of' approximately the same thickness as said teeth and disposed within the notches between said teeth, there being spaces left between' the ends of said plates and the sides of said teeth, the ends of said plates and the 'sides of said teeth being formed convex and con-being concave cave in substantially complementary form,

narrow leaf springs composed individually` of a plurality of thin laminae'bunchedD together fitting in the spfaces lbetween the ends of said plates and the sides of said teeth arranged to be bowed upon relative movement between said teeth and said-plates in operation, and an annular sheet'metal shell riveted with said plates to said clutch plate having an annular linturned flange enclosing the peripheries of said plates and teeth and serving to retain said leaf springs in the spaces betweensaid plates and teeth.

5. In a power transmission element, a pair 1 of members arranged to be connected to operate together with freedom for limited rotation of one with respect to the other, one of said members'being provided with a drive 70 tooth, the other of said members providing a casing to" enclose the tootlrand having a pair Vof abutnients in said casing in front of and v behind said tooth as respects the direction of relative, rotation, the tooth and abtitments 75. lproviding driving parts, one of said parts being concave on its face, the other facing partbeing conveii, and a leaf spring interposed between said parts spanning the concavity and resting in engagement with' the 80 J` convexity of said parts. l v Y Y 6. -In a power transmission element, a pairl of members arranged vto be connected to opl `erate together with freedom for4 limited ro.-

tation of one withl respectto the other, one of said members being provided with a drive tooth, the other of said members providing a casing to enclose the tooth and having a pair of abutments in said casing in front of and behind said tooth as respects the direcl tion of relative rotation, the tooth,a1 id abutments providing' driving parts, one of said parts being concave on its face, the other facing part being convex, anda leaf spring in,-v

terposed between said parts spanning the 9i', i il yconca'vlty and resting in' engagement withv the convexity of said'parts,said spring havfing a lslight initial deflection but: being normally spaced at its midpoint from the troughof the concavity to permit of fiirther 100. l

deflection.

` 7 In a power transmission elemeirt,.a pair of members'arranged to be connected to opv erate together'with 'freedom for limited rota` tion of-one with respect to the other, one of ,105 said'members being provided with a plurality of drive teeth, the other of said members providing a casing to enclose the same and having pairs of abutments therein in front of and behind said teeth as respects the di- 110 l rection of relative rotation, the teeth and abutments providing driving parts, the one set of driving arts being convex on its opposite driving. aces, the other set of parts on itsfaces opposed to the 115 other driving parts, "and laminated leaf springs interposed between said parts on opvposit-e sides of said teeth spanning the concavities and resting .1n engagement with the lconvexities, said springs having a sllght initial deflectionI but' being normally spaced at their mid points from the troughs of the concavities to permit of further deflection.

' In witness of the foregoing I allix my signature. is@ y MAR@ VN WILLENE 

